WSET Level 3 Week 7 Rhone Valley

Better get this one up before Week 8 Starts tomorrow!

What to say about Rhone, There is North and then there is the South, so close and yet so far, its amazing how a little distance plus a valley, can change the wine profile, especially Syrah, since that's really the only commonality between the two.  I enjoy Crozes Hermitage, especially when it gets those Leafy Undertones!  And at the same time a good blend of the south can be just as tasty.  2007 South Rhone, was a pretty good vintage from what has been said especially on the Chateaunuef-du-Pape front.  But for me the most enjoyment from the 07 have been the Entry Level Cotes Du Rhones, inexpensive and properly balanced.

On Chateaunuef-Du-Pape, to me its one of those regions where you have a wine and love it try and different producer and hate it, funny how that works, Domaine de Pague was a fantastic wine! But the one tasted in Class was super nice too and 1/4 of the price.

On Roses, I like em, I'm not afraid to drink pink wine. /end

WSET LEVEL 3 WEEK 7 RHONE - Downtown Vancouver [AI School] (5/18/2010)
Rhone Wines this Week, a pleasant inexpensive white, some reds and a rose

• 2008 La Vieille Ferme (Perrin & Fils) Côtes du Luberon Blanc - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Luberon
  Pale Lemon Green, Med+ Intensity, Youthful, Floral! Orange Blossom, Greenfruit/apple, Citrus/Lemon/Lime Ripe.
  
  On the Palate, Dry, Med- Acid, Alc Med, Body Med, Med Intesnity, Apple, Citrus/Lemon, White Peeach, Pear, Stoney/Mineral, Med- Finish
  
  Conclusion, This wine is simple and yet pretty and floral I love it!, Ready to drink now/dont wait (85 pts.)
• 2008 Domaine Lafond Tavel Roc-Epine - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Tavel
  Clear, Med Orange. Med Intensity, Developing, Caramalized Red fruit/strawberry, spice, game, watermelon rind
  
  on the Palate, dry, med acid, low tannin, alc med+, med body, med intensity, strawberry, spice med finish
  
  Conclusion, Its a good Rose, ready to drink now. (86 pts.)

• 2006 Cave de Tain St. Joseph Cuvée Prestige - France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, St. Joseph
  Clean, Med+Intensity, Developing, Dark Fruit+Red Fruit/Raspberry, Spice, game, cola, coffee
  
  on the palate, dry, med+ acid, med+ tannin, alc med, body med, med intensity, dark fruit, dark chocolate, spice, vegetal/cabbage, med+ finish
  
  conclusion, this needs time, atleast a decant for sure, opens up nicely (89 pts.)
• 2006 Mommessin Côtes du Rhône Villages terroirs de galets - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône Villages
  Med+ Ruby, Med intensity, umami, warm red fruit/cherry/twizzler, clean, mineral, toast. youthful
  
  on the palate, dry med acid, med tannin, alc med+, med body, med intensity, red fruit/cranberry, short finish
  
  conclusion, good wine simple/inexpesnvie (86 pts.)
• 2006 Perrin & Fils Côtes du Rhône Villages Rasteau - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône Villages Rasteau
  deep ruby, no change at rim, med+ intensity, dark fruit, flint, clean, mineral, developing
  
  on the palate, med acid, med tannin, med+ alc, med+ body, med intensity, spice, stewed red fruit, med+ finish
  
  conclusion, very good, needs a little time to develop maybe a year? (87 pts.)
• 2007 Château de la Gardine Châteauneuf-du-Pape - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
  Deep Purple, No Change at Rim, Pronounced Intensity, developing, spice/warm/baking spice, vanilla, dark fruit, warm baked orange loaf.
  
  on the palate, dry med acid, med+ tannin, high alc, med+ body, med+ intensity, dark fruit, stewed, plums, chocolate, spice, mineral, Long finish
  
  conclusion, nice chewiness, but good acidity to keep it fresh, ready to drink can develop further (90 pts.)

Posted from CellarTracker
THE 100-POINT RATING SCALE (Robert Parker of the Wine Advocate describes this in more detail.)
• Extraordinary (96-100 points)
• Outstanding (90-95)
• Very Good to Excellent (85-89)
• Good (80-84)
• Average (75-79)
• Below average (70-74)
• Avoid (50-70)

A Blind Tasting, Completly Random

There is something about tasting wine with people who are just as passionate about you without being, pretentious, I mean good decissusion it is what makes us feel good about what we do. Its even better when you have a disagreement and that passion, really how can you not love a good fight [no malice] just pure fun disagreement.

This was Bring a Random Bottle Night I brought the 2006 Domaine De la Roche Costières-de-Nîmes from Southern Rhone the last time I brought this wine to a tasting it was not hated lets say and yet again it held its ground against some expensive wines, 17$ for mine [cheap in the BC market] against 30-50$. GO ME! hah now only If I can repeat

BLIND TASTING MONDAYS - Holiday Inn Downtown Vancouver (4/26/2010)

White

• N.V. Paul Zinck Crémant d'Alsace Brut - France, Alsace, Crémant d'Alsace
  C: Light Lemon
  A: Clean, Nuts, Very Yeasty and Rich/Bread
  T: Dry, Med+ Acid, Creamy Bubbles, Golden Apple/Skin, Touch Caramel/Butterscotch, Finish Creamy/Cheese
  
  Good Quality, Lots of yeast, warmish climate feel, Ripe (90 pts.)
• 2008 Gipsie Jack Sauvignon Blanc - New Zealand, South Island, Marlborough
  A: Clean, Started with Floral, Serbert/Orange, Melon, then opening with Greenness/Grass
  
  T: Dry, Med+Acid, med Body, Med Finish, Greeness/Herbs, Passionfruit
  
  Conclusion, Has a odd Off balance finish in the beginning, a young style warm climate feel, easy drinking, opening up with a more A-Typical SB of NZ Marl (89 pts.)
• 2008 Jaffelin Bourgogne-Aligoté - France, Burgundy, Bourgogne-Aligoté
  C: Clear, Pale lemon Green
  A: Confectioners Sugar, Floral/Soap, Rich?
  T: High Acid, Body Light, Finish Med, Green Apple/Skin, Lemon Zest, Finish Med
  
  Conlusion, Very High Acid, need some Cheese hard to drink solo (88 pts.)

Red

• 2005 Querciabella Chianti Classico - Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico
  C: Med Ruby
  A: Clean, Med+ Intensity, Meaty/Game/Pepper, Cherry, Warm
  T: High Acid, Finish Short, Med- Tannin, Sour Cherry/Skin, Rubber/astringent, Some Oak Use, Chocolate, Dirty
  
  Conclusion, at first was thinking a Syrah/Grenache on the nose, new world but once you started to drink this yeah Sang coming through opened up nicely (87 pts.)
• 2006 Domaine De la Roche Costières-de-Nîmes - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Costières-de-Nîmes
  C: Med+ Ruby
  A: Clean, Rich, Cherry Skin, Stinky, Mineral/Earth
  T: Med- acid, Med- tannin, Med Finsih, Body Med +, Rich, Cherry, Ripe, Creamy Strawberry, Mineral [Ocean/Shells]
  
  Conclusion my entry into the blind tasting and it held up yet again! (89 pts.)
• 2007 Perrin & Fils Côtes du Rhône Reserve - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône
  C: Clear, Med+ Ruby
  A: Warm Raison, Orange Peel, vanilla
  T: Med+ Acid, Med+ Tannin, Med+ Finish, Red fruit/sour Cherry, cream/Coffee, Chocoalte (88 pts.)
• 2008 Familia Zuccardi Malbec Santa Julia Reserva - Argentina, Mendoza
  A: Clean, Med+ Intensity, Cola, Cherry, Richness, Cherry, Coffee/Grounds, Lipstick
  T: Acid Med+, Body Big, Finish Long, Cherry Juice, I like, Spice
  
  Conclusion Good Juice! (90 pts.)

Posted from CellarTracker
Overall/Reflection: Score: 88 THE 100-POINT RATING SCALE (Robert Parker of the Wine Advocate describes this in more detail.) • Extraordinary (96-100 points) • Outstanding (90-95) • Very Good to Excellent (85-89) • Good (80-84) • Average (75-79) • Below average (70-74) • Avoid (50-70)

SaltSpring Island Vacation Wines (6)

So I went down to my local wine store [Liberity Wine Merchants, Granville Island] Always so helpful, it must help being in a tourist location so that's great. I mean I know enough about wine but I don't know what each individual wine taste like and that's why you need to ask these people what they have tasted and if its any good, and if so is it worth the money 5$ to 100+$

I wanted wines that I generally don't drink, and one expensive one that I would assume I would like [we will get to that later on]. I wanted a Loire Sauv [check] a sparkling [no-check] why no sparkling didn't really want to buy a bottle of champage shrug. Another white was thinking a Viognier Condrieu [check Viognier, no-check Condrieu]. Italian, I don' drink Italian, have been turned off by Sangioveses [check Nebbilio, Check Chianti] And I wanted a Bandol! [check] Because It was summer - Vacation - warm - water front property - just like Provence minus all the people? Then I had some Coronas too but eh that beer is too sweet for me, I prefer Kronenberg 1664

2007 Domaine des Corbillières Touraine Blanc
This was such a nice surprise for me, I went to a NZ wine tasting and really was turned off by all the Green Pepper [under ripe IMO]. This had a touch of that but with a touch of sweetness, lots of fruit just fantastic, the nose translated to the palate which was really good. Ripe Roaring Acidity which I love, which is why on Cellartracker I gave it 92Pts.

2008 Marichel Vineyards Viognier
A Viognier Trying to be a Sauvignon Blanc? As weird as it sounds it was maybe the fact that the fruit was very Sauvignon Blanc with good acidity (with no Greenness). Had Aromas of Zestyness with some Candied Orange Peel Day 2. Floral Notes were more pronounced becoming more Viognier but still not there. Tasting it It got my thinking is this a Viognier or a Sauvignon Blanc. Lots of really good acidity pure fruit can start to taste the alc at room temp. This wine is good but I wanted a Pure Viognier! this would be really amazing to I think someone who liked a Sauvignon Blanc but didn't like those under ripe greenness that usually it comes with. I gave this a 90pts

2004 Mauro Veglio Langhe Nebbiolo
Nebbiolo I have had a Barberesco, which I thoroughly enjoyed and so this was better then that one. At First it hits you with all those Tannins that you are going to get, some fruit. I stopped after that glass, and moved to the Bandol and had a glass of that then came to this again, and now the wine was tasting better maybe because of the fruit of the Bandol made it more palatable? I would of liked to decant this a lot longer tho. I have gave this a 90pts I would definitely like to try it again

2004 Castello di Bossi Chianti Classico
This was very nice but not my style because of the spiced Plums, its not a smell I generally like myself but it was good in that sense. Aromas of Stewed Spiced Plums Taste not stewed, initial attack was bubble gum then opened up into good dark cherry touch of spice good acidity. I gave this a 88pts

2004 Bunan Bandol Moulin des Costes
Ah Bandol the Warm Climate wine, the Original Fruit Bomb? This was Pure Fantastic Fruit, not over the top but controlled, it was fruit it was real. Just big dark Jammy (but not over cooked jammy) Really Yummy. This wine I could drink all the time just for shear pleasure I mean, want to open a wine for yourself and for someone who doesn't drink wine you both will like this. Maybe even two bottles! I gave this 91pts

2005 Domaine du Coulet (Matthieu Barret) Cornas Brisse Caillou
This was suppose to be my piece de resistance, the most expensive a North Rhone Syrah! I love Northern Rhone Syrah because of the cooler climate Syrah, then after I drank it I read that Cornas is the warmest of the northern, or something like that! Now I know pfft. I think this would of tasted better if Let it sit for 10years but nope I didn't. Day 1. Aromas of Sugar Fruit, over the top crazy not pleasant to me. Day 2. Got more interesting Of Moroccan Dried Olives like really shriveled salty olives with little splash of Cherry Juice over it (Real Juice not that Sugary stuff from earlier). but the olives were in your face. Tasting wise they both followed the same path. I had a beautiful lamb dinner made from Salt Spring Island Lamb and everything it failed to live up to the expectation ah well. 88pts I gave it 89 on cellartracker I just down graded it. Tho maybe in 10years this vintage will be good.

Its Salmon, NOT PINK! Round 1

I am going to start around of 3 roses as often as I Can, aka Depending how much I drink. I would like to do atleast 4 rounds by the end of summer, ranking them based on the 3 I had, Then Maybe at the end of the Summer get the winners of each one and do a Rose night with some friends and see who really wins!

So I am a Fan of Rose, I enjoy whites wines, they both have the quality of a refreshing summer sipper, Like a Beer. I just can't drink beer like wine, once in awhile and it has to be really good beer hah.

So this Round, Number 1!

La Vielle Ferme 2007 - Cotes du Ventoux [Bought at the BCLD 39&Cambie $13.99 CND]
Domaine Houchart 2008 - Provence [Bought at the BCLD 39&Cambie $16.96 CND]
Chateau De La Galiniere - Provence [Bought at the BCLD 39&Cambie $18.99 CND]

Rhone Gang Tasting Part 2 (Red)

Part 2

Went to a Rhone Gang tasting event put on by Free House Wine and Spirits here in Vancouver, and tried a lot of Rhone Wines, lots of Viognier, Grenache, Syrahs. The wine makers were here as well pouring and talking about their wine which is really cool, If you ever get a chance to get to a tasting or event and the wine maker is there definitely go its worth it and its super fun.

Rodolphe de Pins of Chateau de Montfaucon
Louis Barruol of Chateau de St Cosme
Frederic Chaudiere of Chateau Pesquie

Rhone Reds defintitly have a Distictive Rhone Character, how to explain that I have no idea I am not that experienced. Yet.

Lets Start with Chateau Montfaucon

2006 'Comtesse Madeleine' Cotes du Rhone Rouge: A Young wine needs more time in the bottle to just settle down a TON of acidity bouncing in there like an energetic child.

1998 Cotes du Rhone: This is like Smooth Strawberry Juice going down, with a touch of acidity not a lot left but just enough, this wine just shows that a bottom level wine can age and gets better everything just mellows and becomes Delicious

2005 'Baron Louis' Cotes du Rhone: Violet Colour Taste of red fruit with acidity on the palate still a baby not as Energtic as the Comtesse Madeleine

2000 'Baron Louis': Aroma of Nutty Sherry very pleasant, with Cherry Juice, very Smooth very nice Very Delicious

2007 Monsineur Le Baron: Before I get into the notes this wine is made "Old Skool" way of basically just taking all the grapes in the vineyard (whatever variety they maybe) Putting them in a fermenting vat, and letting to their thing together with natural yeast. This wine has 15 Varietals Rhone, Including Viognier, Oban, Tempranillo[30year old vines in Rhone Madness I know]. Violet in Colour not Super Dark remember there is white wine in here maybe 5-10%. On the nose you do pick up the Syrah, the Cinnamon Bun nose I like to call it has that sweetness, and on the mouth its gentle and nice I mean its a 2007 and drinking very nicely.

Chateau Pesquie

2006 'Les Terrasses' Rouge: 70% Grenache 30% Syrah Taste of Apples and Very Dry Its wierd its a red wine and tsate like apples but Hey I calls them how I tastes them

2005 'La Quintessesce' Rouge: 80% Syrah 20% Grenache Dryer then the Les Terrasses and Bigger fills the mouth very nicely you can almost feel the difference that the ration of More syrah does but its not Syrah as a typical Warm Rhone, these are grown in southern Rhone but on a Mountain I think he said Elevation was 500ft atleast.

2006 'Artemia' Rouge: 50% 80year old Grenache, 50% 50year old Syrah. Aroma of Petrol [Nail Polish Variety] very mild tho] and this was with it not be decanted when I had it decanted it was different but I was basically drinking this becuase I felt this was the best wine here and was drinking and not taking notes. Taste of Red Fruit, Cherry Acidtiy very High, thought this should go with food very well, went and grabbed some blue cheese, creamy brie like cheese and both went extremly well.

Chateau Saint Cosme:

2007 Cotes du Rhone Rouge: 100% Syrah Aroma of Game and Grill Brick [A grill brick is what you use to clean your flattop in a restaurant it has a distictive smell almsot like a smelly beach]

2007 Gigondas: Taste of red fruit sweet and ripe, good acidity

2006 Gigondas Valbelle: 90% Grenache (sorry no notes)

2007 Gigondas Les Claux: 100% Grenache Taste of Sweet Black Tea was pleasant for sure

2006 Saint Joseph: Aroma of grill brick[see above] and strawberry taste of Fruit, nice Tannin Structure but almost smooth

2005 Chateauneuf-de-Pape: 50% Mourvedre Dry Tannins not a lot of fruit on the palate IMO this is a baby and should decant for along time or come back in a couple of years defintily high quality wine tho

2007 Cote Rotie: Aroma of Coffee[hint] syrup, green olives! Taste of Red Currant, red berries very red in the flavour profile in a good way a niec tartness with low aciity


The Rhone Gang

2007 Hold Up: 70% Pinot Noir 30% Grenache Taste and Aroma of Cherry on top of Cherry very approahable for everyone smooth and a hint of creamyness from the oak

2005 Wanted: Aroma is Rhone Typical, Taste of Sweet Cherry